Data communications between short-range enabled wireless devices over networks and proximity marketing to such devices

Abstract

A method for allowing short-ranged communication devices to communicate with each other using the Internet. Cell servers are provided in a first and second zones linked to the Internet and adapted for transmitting voice and other digital data over the Internet such as using VoIP. The method includes registering users of short-range enabled devices, such as Bluetooth cell phones, with a communication system and storing a device identifier along with a user ID and password. A contact list is stored for each registered user. The method includes a registered user entering a cell serviced by a server, the server discovering the user's device, logging the user into the system based on the device identifier and an entered user ID and password, receiving a communication request to chat with one of the listed contacts, and establishing a communication session using time previously awarded to the user for receiving marketing content.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 047,001 filed Apr. 22, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates, in general, to communications between short range wireless devices such as Bluetooth-enabled devices and, more particularly, to computer software, hardware, and computer-based methods for allowing short range wireless devices to communicate over digital communication networks such as the Internet such as may significantly increase the range of such devices and allow users to have voice communications or chats with other users of short range wireless devices. The present invention is also related to proximity marketing methods and systems.[0004]2. Relevant Background[0005]Proximity marketing allows companies to distribute advertising contents associated with a particular place using loca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In some embodiments of the invention, the methods and systems are addressing this inventor-recognized need to make voice chats or communications directly from the cell phones or other short-range enabled devices by making use of some integrated networks (such as the Internet and servers or other computer devices / systems linked to the Internet), connecting the interested parties together, and enabling them to initiate voice chats, text messaging, and / or other communications (all may be considered “chats”) from their cell phones / devices typically without charge (in some embodiments, though, fees may be charged initially such as a low fee to enter a physical location where chats are completed or on a periodic basis such as a monthly fee for being a registered user of the service). In one specific example, the methods and systems of the invention are implemented using Bluetooth technologies, and in these cases, the methods and systems integrate an IP-based network (e.g., to transfer digital information including that associated with VoIP) with that of Bluetooth radio (e.g., to allow a user's device to communicate in a wireless manner with a local or proximity server or radio / computer system to access the communication service including registering or logging in as a user and communicating with the IP-based network). Such an integrated network facilitates voice communication among Bluetooth-enabled cell phones or devices.

[0015]By availing or providing a facility that allows the users of cell phones and other wireless devices to effect voice communication directly from their cell phones (typically without charge), the integrated communication system of the invention increases the duration of potential stay of each passing-by visitor at the premises or the enterprises of the media owners. In other words, some embodiments may actually encourage a user of a device to remain within a particular cell such as by providing communication service only within that cell, by providing additional free talk credit time based on a length of stay or presence of the user's device which is Bluetooth-enabled and discoverable within the cell or with other techniques. In other cases, though, the user is free to roam between adjacent and / or proximate cells without loss of the communication service. The Bluetooth proximity marketing part of the system (a proximity marketing or content distribution system or assembly) helps to direct the flow of traffic of the passing-by crowd towards the premises or the enterprises while the communication (e.g., voice chat) enabling part of the system helps to prolong the duration of potential stay of the passing-by visitors at the premises or the enterprises. In essence, the integrated system helps to drive traffic of the potential customers towards the premises or the enterprises of the business owners and also to disseminate their marketing messages to the targeted users in the proximity while providing a communication service or channel typically without charge to the general users.

[0016]In standard mobile telecommunication systems, a user is required to have a registered SIM (subscriber identity module) card to make a telephone call with a remote contact. If his SIM card is lost, someone may use his lost SIM card to make calls at his expense. Such a risk of unauthorized use of a SIM card may be reduced when it is security locked with a password. In part to address this problem with prior systems, users of the described communication systems are typically required to register for authorized access with their preferred Bluetooth-enabled devices. In a registration session, the unique 6-byte hexadecimal Bluetooth ID of the preferred Bluetooth-enabled device is identified and associated with the login credentials of the registering user. In some preferred embodiments, the unique 6-byte hexadecimal Bluetooth ID is registered together with the selected user ID and password as a single entity. If a user registers successfully, the user logs in to the system for subsequent accesses in the presence of the preferred device, and, in some embodiments, without the presence of the registered device (and its unique ID) his login will be denied. Hence, in these embodiments, the overall user experience of the system is enhanced with more stringent security control.

[0017]One embodiment of the invention may be considered as a system for effecting at least voice and text communication (e.g., more generally data communication) among Bluetooth-enabled devices (or some other short-range communication protocol / technology-enabled devices) (such as cell phones and other wireless communication devices, laptops or other personal computers or computing devices, video game consoles, and the like) within the transmission range of Bluetooth cells inter-connected with the Internet. This system of the invention relates generally to the design and the implementation of an inter-connected network of radio cells (collectively, Bluetooth cells) that typically utilize unlicensed radio frequency band, for example Bluetooth protocol operating in the license-free ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) radio frequency band at 2.4-2.4835 GHz. While Bluetooth is mentioned specifically for use in embodiments of the invention, the systems and methods of the invention are not limited to Bluetooth. Through the use of communication plug-ins, the systems and networks described can be integrated with Wi-Fi, WiMAX, GPRS, 3 G, or other wireless communication protocols in addition to Bluetooth. But, in the Bluetooth embodiments, each Bluetooth cell in the communication system is managed by a server that is inter-connected via the Internet backbone to a network of similar servers that span or are located in different geographical zones (which may be configured to cover a particular region such as a particular country or portion of such country or may even extend globally to nearly any location with access to the Internet). The inter-connected servers allow users of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones or devices (e.g., utilizing a Bluetooth transceiver in each device) located within the transmission range of each Bluetooth cell to make and receive at least text messages and voice calls from their cell phones to users of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones in other Bluetooth cells within the network while being able to receive contents / messages from the proximity marketing or advertisement distribution portion of the system (e.g., contents relative to their locale or the locale of the other users they are communicating with via the communication system).

Problems solved by technology

However, most of the cell phones presently available in the market are not smart devices nor are they expensive PDAs.

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